Missouri Water Quality Report: 5,602 Violations Across 850 ZIPs
1,934 water systems · 850 ZIP codes · 5,602 violations · Updated
Data: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS), EPA ECHO Last verified:
ZipCheckup tracks EPA drinking-water compliance for 1,934 public water systems serving 850 ZIP codes in Missouri. The state record shows 5,602 EPA violations, 469 health-based.
City Water Quality Map: Missouri
Each circle represents a city. Size indicates population, color indicates water quality grade. Tap a circle for details.
Violation Trend
EPA violations across all water systems in Missouri.
Cities with Most Violations in Missouri
| # | City | Grade | Violations | Systems | Population | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shell Knob | 103 | 5 | 3,957 | Details → | |
| 2 | Lampe | 97 | 3 | 1,869 | Details → | |
| 3 | Blue Eye | 93 | 3 | 1,784 | Details → | |
| 4 | Kennett | 92 | 4 | 11,964 | Details → | |
| 5 | Bourbon | 89 | 3 | 5,086 | Details → | |
| 6 | Kansas City | 60 | 20 | 602,147 | Details → | |
| 7 | Marthasville | 57 | 5 | 6,593 | Details → | |
| 8 | High Ridge | 49 | 5 | 17,480 | Details → | |
| 9 | Wappapello | 44 | 5 | 2,183 | Details → | |
| 10 | Senath | 44 | 2 | 2,098 | Details → |
Most Common Contaminants in Missouri
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected | Health Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stage 2 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 1,088 | 559 | No |
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 688 | 423 | No |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | 467 | 269 | No |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 442 | 219 | Yes |
| Contaminant 0700 | Other | 368 | 159 | Yes |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 312 | 180 | Yes |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Technique | 285 | 206 | No |
| Fecal Coliform | Microbiological | 97 | 35 | Yes |
| Contaminant 2037 | Other | 65 | 34 | No |
| Benzene | Organic | 65 | 34 | No |
Water Quality Overview
Missouri has 1,934 community water systems represented across 850 directly mapped ZIP records. The associated city records cover approximately 7,206,479 people. The available records contain 5,602 EPA violations, including 469 health-based violations.
Health-based violations account for 8% of all violations in Missouri. These violations indicate contaminant levels that may pose direct risks to human health, as opposed to monitoring or reporting failures.
Violation Breakdown
| Violation Type | Count | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Health-based | 469 | 8.4% |
| Monitoring/Reporting | 5,133 | 91.6% |
| Total | 5,602 | 100% |
Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeding EPA Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs). Monitoring violations indicate failures to test or report - these do not necessarily mean unsafe water, but they mean the water was not properly verified.
Cities with Most Violations
The following cities in Missouri have the highest number of EPA violations:
| Rank | City | Violations | Water Systems | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shell Knob | 103 | 5 | 3,957 |
| 2 | Lampe | 97 | 3 | 1,869 |
| 3 | Blue Eye | 93 | 3 | 1,784 |
| 4 | Kennett | 92 | 4 | 11,964 |
| 5 | Bourbon | 89 | 3 | 5,086 |
| 6 | Kansas City | 60 | 20 | 602,147 |
| 7 | Marthasville | 57 | 5 | 6,593 |
| 8 | High Ridge | 49 | 5 | 17,480 |
| 9 | Wappapello | 44 | 5 | 2,183 |
| 10 | Senath | 44 | 2 | 2,098 |
Violation counts are cumulative across all water systems serving each city. Higher counts may reflect larger systems with more monitoring requirements, not necessarily worse water quality.
Violation Trend Over Time
Year-by-year EPA violations recorded across all water systems in Missouri:
| Year | Total Violations | Health-Based |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 74 | 74 |
| 2022 | 118 | 118 |
| 2023 | 169 | 169 |
| 2024 | 220 | 220 |
| 2025 | 130 | 130 |
Violations have increased from 74 in 2021 to 130 in 2025. This trend warrants monitoring and may reflect expanded testing requirements rather than worsening quality.
Most Common Contaminants
The following contaminants have caused the most violations across Missouri water systems:
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected | Health-Based |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stage 2 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 1,088 | 559 | No |
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 688 | 423 | No |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | 467 | 269 | No |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 442 | 219 | Yes |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 312 | 180 | Yes |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Technique | 285 | 206 | No |
| Fecal Coliform | Microbiological | 97 | 35 | Yes |
| Benzene | Organic | 65 | 34 | No |
| Total Coliform | Microbiological | 55 | 46 | No |
| E. coli | Microbiological | 54 | 32 | Yes |
How to Check Your Water in Missouri
Enter your ZIP code on ZipCheckup for detailed water-system data including contaminant levels and violation history; the separate Home Safety Score is a multi-source index
Request your CCR - every water utility must provide an annual Consumer Confidence Report
Get a home test - certified kits ($20-$50) or professional lab tests ($150-$400)
Consider filtration - NSF-certified filters can address specific contaminants found in your area
EPA Enforcement
The EPA and state regulators have taken 6,548 enforcement actions against water systems in Missouri. Enforcement actions range from compliance assistance to formal orders and penalties.
Data Sources
- Water quality: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
- Enforcement: EPA ECHO
Updated daily.
What are EPA violations?
Health-based violations mean a contaminant was detected above the EPA's Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) - the legal limit designed to protect human health. Missouri has 469 such violations across its water systems. Not all violations cause illness, but repeated exceedances increase risk, especially for children and immunocompromised individuals.
Understanding water quality grades
ZipCheckup grades water systems from A to F based on EPA violation history, contaminant levels, and system compliance. Grade A means few or no violations; Grade F indicates persistent or serious issues. Grades are calculated per ZIP code and aggregated at the city, county, and state level.
Wondering about your tap water?
Water quality varies by ZIP code. Enter yours to see contaminant data, violations, and filtration recommendations specific to your area.
Check Your ZIP Code Water Quality →Frequently Asked Questions
Is the tap water safe to drink in Missouri?
Missouri has 1,934 community water systems with 5,602 recorded EPA violations, including 469 health-based. Water quality varies by city and ZIP code - check your specific location for detailed results.
How many water violations does Missouri have?
Missouri has 5,602 total EPA violations across 850 ZIP codes. 469 are health-based violations that indicate contaminant levels potentially harmful to human health. The remainder are monitoring or reporting violations.
Which city in Missouri has the worst water quality?
Shell Knob, MO has the most EPA violations among major cities in Missouri with 103 recorded violations. Check individual ZIP codes for the most accurate picture of your local water quality.
Which city in Missouri has the best water quality?
Several cities in Missouri maintain excellent EPA compliance. Check individual city reports for details.
What contaminants are found in Missouri drinking water?
Missouri water systems are monitored for over 90 EPA-regulated contaminants including lead, copper, nitrates, disinfection byproducts, and bacteria. The most common violations vary by region - check your ZIP code for contaminant-specific data.